At the opening address for the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) 2013 Annual Conference, Eric Cornuel, EFMD’s Director General and CEO, gave an inspiring introduction on the positive influence that management education has worldwide.

In the past 20 years, poverty has been reduced by 50%.

“Yes, we do make a difference and yes we do make a positive contribution and yes we should be proud of what we have achieved.” –Cornuel

As Cornuel reiterated, higher education should be proud of its contribution, particularly towards reducing poverty. In fact, in the past 20 years, poverty has been reduced by 50%, due to the ongoing evolution of higher education.

At the conference itself, there was a record 401 delegates from 53 countries, all interested in openly sharing their perspectives on the future of management education and their own roles in its development in their respective countries.

The theme of this annual conference, taking place in Brussels, Belgium, will build upon the impact of higher and management education and its future role within the changing global environment.

Eric Cornuel

Eric Cornuel is an Affiilate Professor at HEC. He is the Director General & CEO of EFMD (European Foundation for Management Development) in Brussels.
He holds a degree of Sciences Po from IEP Paris, an MBA from HEC, a DEA in strategy and management from Paris Nanterre University, together with a Doctoral Certificate of Specialisation in Strategy from HEC Graduate School of Management Paris and a Ph.D. in management from Paris Dauphine University.
Eric started his career as an entrepreneur by setting up an hydroelectric power plant in France when he was still a student. He was in charge of the HEC Institute for Central and Eastern Europe (Paris). He then served as Dean of KIMEP, at the time the leading Business and Economics school in Central Asia, from 1997 to 2000. He was awarded a honorary professorship for his achievements.
Eric’s key qualifications are in the areas of strategy, international management and entrepreneurship and he is a regular contributor to the Emerald Management Journals and the business press.
Eric Cornuel is, among others, a Board Member of the EIASM (European Institute of Advanced Studies in Management), EABIS (European Academy of Business in Society), ISBM (International Schools of Business Management, CEIBS (China Europe International Business School), and GFME (Global Foundation for Management Education).

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